Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 249: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

(x a LS: * s0.” Soaks, ww at ard mR tt VA a ee Tit <7: a + he is, sir,” said the young girl, gsickly; “‘ but, as we know—though, alas! we could net prove {t—he is guite innocent. The judge and the jury thouz’st dif- ferently, however, and he is sentenced te twokty-one _ years’ transportation.” ‘¢T will take your word for his innoeenee,” said Dick, _ “T may as well confess to you that I havo brokea th laws—that the pvlice officers are even now ou my track. I look to you to assist me to escape.” “How can we, sir 2” said the young girl, shrinki-% back—“ how can we ?” “ Hasily,” said Dick. ‘I only want you to conduct me noiselessly down the staircase, and let me out of the front door of the house; and, in return, I will pledge my - word to use my best efforts to release the young man you speak of. There are those belonging to me who probably will be in the same condition as he is now, and lam de- termined that, in defiance of the laws, they shall be liberated. The same with this young man; and, in addition, I will put him in the way of leaving England secretly, and supply him with sufficient money to do “Tt is a dream,” said the oid woman, speaking for the first time, and uttering her words in a shrieking, hysteri- cal voice—“ it is a dream—all a dream! You are not in earnest in what you say.” “‘ But if I prove it,” said Dick, quietly, “ will you be- lieve me, and will yon do what I require ?” SE will.” Dick beckoned her to approach him, and then pointed: out of the attic window. What he saw filled Dick with some little surprise, and caused him te quicken his movements. The bulky object which the police officers were drag- ging was evidently a broad plank, or something of that kind, which they could put across from one parapet to the other, and so continue their search over the housetops without hazarding that tremendous jump. They had now effected the passage, and were fsarfully close at hand. “You sce,” said Dick, “they are police officers and searching closely for me; you see no time is to be lost. | tell you again I will set the young man free, and those who know Dick Turpin always say he keeps kis word.” “Ts that your name ?” said the old woman, earnestly “Tt is.” “Then I believe you,” she answered. ‘Come with me —I have no fear that you will deceive me.” “T shall not. Let me fasten the window on the inner side. There, that will do. Now take me unperceived to the front door, and make all speed back to this room. If the officers speak to you or enter, make a great show of un- fastening the window, and then tell them that you have not been disturbed.” The old woman nodded, and seemea so alarmed at the proximity of the officers, that she almost dragged the high- wayman from the room, The stairs were descended rapidly and noiselessly. Many other persons were doubtless in the house; but, if so, Dick neither saw nor heard anything of them, while the passing of anyone up and down the stairs being heard would not be paid the least attention to. In a very brief space of time the street-door was reached. The old woman opened it, and looked fceth before she allowed Dick to issue himself. “The street is clear,” she said. ‘ You will escape-un- seen. Quick—quick, that I may return to the attic!” “But the young man’s name?” said Dick—* what is it? Tell me, and do not be afraid I shall forget.~ “« Philip Greythorpe.” é Dick repeated it, and then said: “Farewell, and many thanks for this service? in the power of mortal man to do wha I have it shall be done!” - : With these words he stepped quietly into the street, If it lies promised being camrful to avoid all appearance of burvy or alarm. The dour was closed immediately behind him, and the old woman ascended to the attic. Dick drew a long breath, and gave himself a hearty shake. “That is what I call an excellent escape,” he mut- tered, “and I fancy the officers will be puzzled not a FOS ih hy EE at a oe eA ‘ . THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. ad - . + err 1621 little at my extraordinary disappearance. Ah, by Jcve, they are looking over the parapet !”’ Dick could tell this by the broad glare of light that suddenly illuminated the dark thoroughfare in which he He walked on, however, with as much composure ag before, though when he turned round the frst corner he came to he felt a sensation of great relief. He knew, then, that he was out of danger. But the consideration presented itself to him of where he was to look for further shelter. It is questionable whether anyone under such circum- stances would have come so readily to a conclusion as Dick did, and still more questionable whether they would have adopted his cuurse ef action. This was, in the coolest and most matter-of-fact man- ner possible to walk back agajir to the White Horse in Drury Lane. It was a path beset with deagers, for the officers would all be on the alert, and probably might jump to the conclusion that as Dick had escaped he had sought a re- fuge there at his old quarters. But Dick did not allow this consideration to influence him in the least degree. In the most unconcerned manner possible to conceive he walked at a steady rate along the almost deserted streets, taking care, however, to proceed to old Mat- re by the most roundabout way he could think of. It was when he really entered Drury Lane that he began to glance somewhat apprehensively around him. T'o his vexation, he perceived a police officer stand- ing at no great distance, who, he fancied, eyed him sus- piciously. But Dick walked on as though he did not observe it— in fact, as though he was not troubling himself about anything going on around him, Upon reaching the White Horse, he glanced up at the lamp over the doorway, and appeared to hesi- tate. Then, just as though he was a chance passenger, and had made up his mind to call in for refreshment, he ascended the steps, and walked down the passage. He was greeted with an exclamation which came from old Matthew, who was standing at the bar, and who, by his manner, was evidently on the look-out for him. ‘Good gracious!” he ejaculated. “ What on earth can bring you back like that? But don’t stop to answer me! Upstairs with you—upstairs! I can wait till then to hear your news.” Dick did not wait to be told twice, but ran up the staircase two or three steps at a time. Old Matthew was not long behind him, though he en- tered the room rather out of breath. ‘‘What has happened?” he cried, in genuine alarm “T heard a rumor that you had been captured in Bow Street.” Dick smiled. “Then I am afraid,” he said, “the person who told you did not speak the truth. In sober earnest I was very near it, I assure you.” ‘‘ And have you been seen to enter here?” asked Mat- thew. ‘“ That’s the question.” ‘‘T am afraid I have,” was the reply, ‘and, if so, I shall look to you for safety.” Matthew gave a peculiar and reassuring smile as he said; ‘Well, if there’s any danger approaching, we shall have timely notice of it. Just oblige me by relating your ad- ventures.” Dick complied readily enough. But no words could convey any idea of the amount of amazement Matthew displayed upon learning the perfidy of the old costumier. He was, in fact, at first increduious, omly Dick’s nerrative was of such a character as to leave no rocm for doudt. ‘Tt was my narrowest escape,” said Dick, “and more than once since then I have felt that if evor I get into serious trouble it will be by the perfidiousnesa of soms one in whom I placed the utmost trust,” fi =) a (Ele) S (0) 0)(0\(0)